Ford Blitz Restoration/Rebuild

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Tony

I know you are going to do this but, after my experience, thought it would good to post a general reminder to anyone reassembling a vehicle.

Remember the cable and tubing clips, to keep them routed where you want them routed. Don't forget the speedometer cable. I now install them as I install the wire, tube, etc.

In my hurry to drive my Pat 12 years ago I didn't get all of the clips installed, in particularity the speedometer cable. Which decided to shift, shorted out to the brake switch hot lead. The speedometer cable got hot and melted through the insulation of the battery lead to the starter. Then the whole mess got hot destroyed a two foot section of the main harness just above. Then to add insult to injury the whole mess tried to burn through the rubber fuel line above that. Fortunately I smelled something burning and disconnected the battery and disconnected the fuel line. Truck was parked in the shop at the time with the other two trucks.

The truck is really looking good, what more can you say it will be a factory fresh CMP when your done. Many happy years of driving to come.

Cheers Phil

[Private_collector]

Thanks Phil,

For your kind remarks.

Your meltdown description is one of my worst nightmares. That and having to land a 747, being talked down by air traffic control, then finding out that controller is Sylvester Stallone!

I do have some new wiring clips..........somewhere. I'll find em for sure before I buy the new harness. Bought those from Macs, at a time when I could increase the $$$ amount a little, before I hit the next shipping price increase.

I will also be using rubber grommits on all chassis holes that have something routed through. Exception to that is the two copper tubes for the 'fake' fuel filter. Those tiny little pieces of rubber are hugely expensive and I seemed to have the nack of needing the most expensive sizes! In some places I have had to make do with a less than ideal alternative and cut grommit, then glue ends together, to achieve the desired size or thickness.

I am positive there was a pipe clip with the linkage system between transmission and transfer case when I removed it , but it's not with it now. Usually I make a point of keeping assemblies together, so I dont know what happened there.

[Private_collector]

Spring hangers & pintle brackets 1.jpg
Wanted to get the pintle brackets, some of the spring hangers (rear) and a few other little pieces painted, so of course it rained and blew a gale. Not sufficient rain to bring the lawn & fruit trees back from death row, just enough to P me off! Got the painting done between squawls regardless.
Rear lights painted 1.jpg
Stripped back the NOS rear light sets, and repainted in my color, then repainted the brake lenses. I used a commonly available spray product designed for aftermarket modifications to plastic lenses and bulb coloring. It worked very well. I will buy the equivelent for the amber lenses, later this week...............if the shop is open, with Christmas and all. I will have a rear 'tail' light on both sides, same as the brake lights will be. At this stage no indicators are planned. The system will be remaining 6 volt, after considerable deliberation. I removed two white disks from inside each rear light tube. I gather these are some kind of 'diffuser' for the bulb, or maybe to reduce the light intensity? I have left them out for better light intensity, and a test of the bulbs now, has shown they glow bright and both brake lenses are equal in color, as far as I can tell anyway.

While i'm thinking of it, does the phrase "Keep your eye on the ball" come from the 'Red Ball Express'? Just a thought.

Side mirrors 1.jpg Rear TAC plate frame.jpg
Also painted the side mirrors I got in Honolulu, as well as the second TAC plate and holder frame. I planned to put the PASS writing onto it tonight but time has gotten away from me so i'll do it tomorrow night.
Rear brake blocks NOS.jpg
Will also clean up the NOS rear brake connector blocks tomorrow night too. Got those, and new bolts & connectors from MacsAuto some months ago.

I put todays left over paint to good use, and painted all the new bolts currently on the chassis. That took a couple of hours or more, and a fair percentage of the bolts/nuts won't ever be seen, but they are now looking the part. The master cylinder bolts are a real pain to brush paint with the booster cylinder insitu, as are several others, such as the drivers side step bolts to chassis. With the battery box there it's hard to get at them all properly. Got em all in the end though

Off to bed now. Back to work tomorrow.............sigh